Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of seven Bulgarian cultivars sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.)

Mariya Georgieva, Simeon Krumov, Teodora Ivanova, Desislava Dimitrova, Rositsa Titorenkova

Abstract: The phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of cherries from seven Bulgarian cultivars (Kyustendilska Chrustyalka, Cherna Konyavska, Bulgarian Bigarreau, Mizia, Stefania, Dima, and Vasinika), were evaluated in this paper. The presented results are part of studies, aimed at characterizing the qualities of Bulgarian sweet cherry varieties and comparing them with the world-spread industrial varieties. The total polyphenols in sweet cherry fruits examined in this study ranged from 1.08 to 4.11 mg GAE/g. Total flavonoids varied from 0.69 to 1.54 mg QE/g. The amounts of total monomeric anthocyanins were between
0.1 to 2.91 mg CR/g, being the highest for the cultivar Vasinika fruits. The Vasinika extract possessed the strongest antioxidant activity in both tests (FRAP and DPPH). Analysis of the antioxidant activity and polyphenol content of these Bulgarian cherry cultivars was carried out for the first time.

Keywords: anthocyanins; antioxidant activity; sweet cherry; total polyphenols

Date published: 2023-06-28